1996–97 British Basketball League season


The 1996–1997 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The league retained a total of 13 teams, playing 36 games each. The main change featured the long-awaited return of Crystal Palace after several seasons of rejected applications. Palace replaced Doncaster Panthers following the liquidation of the South Yorkshire club.
The League's two London-based teams dominated throughout the season, with the Leopards team claiming their first silverware in its franchise history after winning the Budweiser League and Sainsbury's Classic Cola Cup double. Their Capital foes, London Towers were equally successful throughout the campaign, clinching the 7 Up Trophy and pipping Leopards to the Play-off title, with a one-point victory in the final at Wembley Arena against their rivals.

Budweiser League Championship (Tier 1)

Final standings


PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Leopards362880.77856
2London Towers3626100.72252
3Sheffield Sharks3626100.72252
4Birmingham Bullets3626100.72252
5Chester Jets3624120.66748
6Manchester Giants3622140.61144
7Newcastle Eagles3621150.58342
8Leicester Riders3615210.41630
9Derby Storm3614220.38928
10Thames Valley Tigers3614220.38928
11Worthing Bears3612240.33324
12Crystal Palace365310.13810
13Hemel & Watford Royals362340.0554



The Play-offs

Quarter-finals

Leopards vs. Leicester Riders
London Towers vs. Newcastle Eagles
Sheffield Sharks vs. Manchester Giants
Birmingham Bullets vs. Chester Jets

Semi-finals

Final

National League Division 1 (Tier 2)

Final standings


PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Ware Rebels262150.80847
2Plymouth Raiders262060.76946
3Coventry Crusaders261880.69344
4Guildford Swifts261880.69344
5Oxford Devils2616100.61542
6Westminster Warriors2615110.57841
7Stockton Mohawks2614120.53840
8Cardiff Phoenix2614120.53840
9Nottingham Knights2612140.46237
10Bury & Bolton Wildcats2611150.42336
11Mid-Sussex Magic2610160.38536
12Brixton TopCats267190.26933
13Liverpool Atac266200.23132
14Solent Stars260260.00026



Play Off Final – Plymouth 118 Ware 106

National League Division 2 (Tier 3)

Final standings


PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Solihull Chiefs262510.96251
2London Towers II262240.84648
3Thames Valley Tigers II262060.76946
4South Wales SS261790.65443
5South Bank Leopards2615110.57841
6Derby Storm II2615110.57841
7Slough Chargers2614120.53840
8Northampton 89ers2611150.42337
9Aston Adante269170.34635
10Swindon Sonics268180.30834
11Flintshire Flyers267190.26933
12Chessington Wildcats267190.26933
13Sheffield Forgers266200.23131
14Bournemouth Dolphins265210.19230



Play Off Final – Thames Valley 91 Solihull 83

Sainsbury's Classic Cola National Cup

Fourth Round

Quarter Finals

Semi Finals

Final

7 Up Trophy

Group stage


Northern Group
TeamPtsPldWLPercent
1.Sheffield Sharks105501.000
2.Chester Jets85410.800
3.Leicester Riders45230.400
4.Manchester Giants45230.400
5.Derby Storm25140.200
6.Newcastle Eagles25140.200



Southern Group
TeamPtsPldWLPercent
1.Leopards105501.000
2.Thames Valley Tigers65320.600
3.Worthing Bears65320.600
4.Birmingham Bullets65320.600
5.Crystal Palace25140.400
6.Hemel & Watford Royals05050.000


Leicester finished ahead of Manchester by having the best head-to-head record between the teams, whilst Birmingham qualify as fourth-placed finishers with the best record. London received a bye into Quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals

Birmingham Bullets vs. Leicester Riders
Leopards vs. London Towers
Thames Valley Tigers vs. Chester Jets
Worthing Bears vs. Sheffield Sharks

Semi-finals

Chester Jets vs. Leicester Riders
Sheffield Sharks vs. London Towers

Final

Seasonal awards